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Thursday, November 17, 2011

The Southern Assault - Volvo Ocean Race Update

As the fleet enters the second phase of leg one of the Volvo Ocean Race, PUMA’s Mar Mostro (Ken Read/USA) continues to keep Telefónica (Iker Martínez/ESP) at bay. The Spanish boat is just off her port hip, 8.9 nautical miles (nm) behind as the pair rattle south at 15.8 knots. They are currently 167 nautical miles off Recife on the Brazilian coast.

Photo: Diego Fructuoso/Team Telefonica/Volvo Ocean Race

Meanwhile, CAMPER (Chris Nicholson/AUS) became the third boat to round Fernando de Noronha at 1430 UTC this afternoon. Groupama 4 has gained 15 nm in the last three hours, but still languishes 394 nm behind PUMA’s Mar Mostro. The French team is likely to reach Fernando de Noronha tomorrow around midday.

Photo: Diego Fructuoso/Team Telefonica/Volvo Ocean Race

Throughout the day, speeds have remained between 14 and 15.7 knots for all four boats in the Volvo Ocean Race fleet. Navigator of PUMA’s Mar Mostro, Tom Addis, says the speeds are high due to the hot angles they are sailing. He plans to take the conventional approach for this leg and dive south, sailing away from the finish in Cape Town. In so doing, PUMA will skirt the Saint Helena High to the south and head into the strong westerly winds that they hope will sweep them to the finish in pole position.

Photo: Diego Fructuoso/Team Telefonica/Volvo Ocean Race

However, Mar Mostro and Telefónica are very similar boats, with similar strengths and weaknesses. The PUMA team is acutely aware that Telefónica is nipping at their heels and one bad sail change or a breakage could let the Spanish through and into the lead. It’s still all to play for.